Sony A65 vs Pentax K-3

Cameras
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Sony A65 vs Pentax K-3

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APS-C 369.7mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A65 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A65.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3.
Compare Pentax K-3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II
Compare Sony A65 vs Pentax K-3 II

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Differences

Sony A65 advantages over Pentax K-3

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Lighter weight
846g vs 1240g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.73x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-3 advantages over Sony A65

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.90 vs 2.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K-3 test data on DxO Mark A65 test data on DxO Mark

1,216 vs 717 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More telephoto lens reach
203 mm vs 83 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 3
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
27 vs 15
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A65 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

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Kit with 18-55m Lens

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Buy the Pentax K-3

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens

All K-3 Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Sony A65.
Read our Sony A65 Initial Test

Top-notch image quality; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Unique on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots; Optional Wi-Fi remote control
AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a DSLR; Rather dated-looking menu system; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors; Less third-party support than some rivals
Read our Pentax K-3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3200

Sony A65

Nikon D3200

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$477
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A65 vs Nikon D3200

Pentax K-3

Nikon D3200

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$477
APS-C

Fast startup
Lighter weight

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D3200

Compared to Nikon D5200

Sony A65

Nikon D5200

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A65 vs Nikon D5200

Pentax K-3

Nikon D5200

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$500
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D5200

Compared to Nikon D7100

Sony A65

Nikon D7100

$798
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$690
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A65 vs Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7100

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$690
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Sony A58

Sony A65

Sony A58

$798
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in GPS

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Sony A65 vs Sony A58

Pentax K-3

Sony A58

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Sony A58

Compared to Nikon D5300

Sony A65

Nikon D5300

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A65 vs Nikon D5300

Pentax K-3

Nikon D5300

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D5300

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